Key case



H. SNYDER May 27, 1952 KEY CASE Filed Dec. 14, 1946 INVENTOR.

HUM/'7 SA/rdcr BY z/h w ATM/9ND Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention pertains to a key container which is adapted tosubstantially enclose two keys.

An object of my invention is to provide a key container whose entireexterior surface is smooth and'free from sharp corners and edges inorder to reduce the wear on clothing pockets.

A further object of my invention is to provide a container which holdsseveral keys and which provides'means for identifying the keys which arewithin.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a key container fromwhich a selected key can easily be projected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a key container whereineach of the several keys therein may-easily be removed and differentkeys put in.

Other objects and a fuller understandingof my invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims and to the drawingwherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the key case with one key extending outof it.

Figure 2 is a face view of the container shown in Figure 1 with the twosections thereof spread out.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1 the container comprises two key sheaths,identified by reference characters I0 and II, which are connectedtogether by a rivet I2 or the like which extends completely through thetwo sheaths I0 and II from one side to the other. The rivet serves topermanetly hold the two sheaths together but it provides for sufiicientplay or looseness that the key sheaths I0 and II can be turned withrespect to each other about the rivet I2 as a pivot, as is shown inFigure 2. Thus a much handier device is provided, it being an advantagewhen trying to unlock a door to have the two sheaths swing 180 degreesfrom each other, yet when the container is folded for carrying in apocket it is small and compact.

Preferably, the sheaths I0, I I are formed of plastic material and theyare identical except that one of them includes an integrallongitudinally extending portion I3 which has a hole I4 through itwhereby the container may be connected to a key ring if it is so desiredand whereby it may be hung on a nail or the like in the home.

Each key sheath is hollow substantially throughout its length, as isshown by Figures 3 and 4, but at its back end where the connecting rivetI2 is located it is solid, as is shown in Figure 5 where the sheetmaterial forming the sheaths I0, I I is wrapped tightly about the basemember N. If it were not solid at the location of the rivet I2 theprocess of connecting the two sheaths I0 and II together would be apt tocrush one or both of the hollow shells. Further, closing one end of eachof the sheaths reduces the quantity of dust, dirt and tobacco particleswithin the container. A longitudinally extending slot I5 is formed inone face of each of the sheaths I0, I I, and this slot terminates shortof the front and back ends thereof. At its forward end I6 the slot I5 isslightly enlarged for a purpose which will be described later. Eachsheath I0, II is open at its forward end and is open for a shortdistance down one of its sides as at I8 in sheath I0 and I9 (Fig. 4) insheath II.

A key 20, having the usual aperture for connecting it to a key ring isconnected into a sheath by forcing into the key aperture a plug member2I which has a threaded hole into it. The plug 2I should be of a softmetal such as brass, aluminum or the like so that it can be forced intothe key aperture by placing the plug over the aperture and squeezingwith a pair of pliers until it enters the aperture. The key 20 is thendropped into the sheath with its apertured end toward the rivet I2 and ascrew 23 is placed with its shank extending through the slot I5 intoengagement with the threaded hole in the plug member 2|. The screw isturned until its head 24 which is considerably wider than the slot I5comes into frictional engagement with the face of the sheath.

The other key 22 is secured in its sheath I I in a similar manner butthe head 25 of the screw which holds it in place should have a differentconfiguration than head 24 in order thay they may be readily identifiedin the dark by feeling them. As shown the screw head 25 is more roundedthan head 24, but it is obvious that many other ways of identifying thekeys associated with the screw heads may be utilized.

When a key is to be used the operator pushes the screw head toward theenlarged portion I6 of the slot I5 thereby causing the key to slide inits sheath, the frictional forces between the shank of the screw and thesides of the slot I5 being sufficient to keep the key in place yet notbeing so great as to prevent the key from being pushed out of the openend of the sheath. When the shank of the screw 23 reaches the enlargedportion N of the slot the key will turn easily into the position shownin Figure 1 and it will then be ready to operate a lock.

Preferably, as shown, the slot [8 in sheath ID is on one side of thecontainer and the slot I9 in the sheath I l is on the other side wherebywhen both keys are extended the one will not interfere with the otherwhen they are operated.

While I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity it is to be understood that changes may be made in thedevice shown and described without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for a key having an aperture comprising, a fiatreceptacle for said key open at one end and having a slot extendinglongitudinally in one of its walls, a plug member adapted to be insertedin the aperture of a key sufficiently tight that there is no relativemovement between the key and the plug member, said plug member having athreaded hole through it, and an actuator having an externallypositioned head whose diameter is larger than the width of said slot anda threaded shank extending from the said head through the said slot intothe interior of said receptacle where it is in threaded engagement withthe said plug member for holding the said key in said receptacle, theshank of said actuator frictionally engaging the side Walls of said slotand the underneath surface of said actuator head frictionally engagingthe outside face of said receptacle to hold said key with respect tosaid receptacle yet permit relative motion therebetween when saidactuator head is pushed longitudinally with respect to said receptacle.7

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 further characterized in this:that the said receptacle is open along one of its narrow edges adjacentsaid open end whereby the said key upon being advanced to its extendedposition may be turned on the said actuator as an axis to a positionangularly related to the said receptacle.

3. A container for a key having an aperture comprising, a fiatreceptacle for said key open at one end and along one of its narrowedges adjacent said open end and having a slot extending longitudinallyin one of its walls, a plug member adapted to be inserted in theaperture of a key sufliciently tight that there is no relative movementbetween the key and the plug member, said plug member having a threadedhole through it, and an actuator having an externally positioned headwhose diameter is larger than the width of the said slot and a threadedshank extending from the said head through the said slot into theinterior of said receptacle where it is in threaded engagement with thesaid plug member for holding the said key in said receptacle, saidactuator being in such frictional engagement with the receptacle thatthe said key can be easily slid out of and back into said receptacle bya person pushing on said actuator head, yet when said actuator is notbeing pushed said key and said receptacle will;

frictionally maintain their relative positions.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 further characterized in this:that the material forming the receptacle is relieved at the location ofone end of the said slot whereby the said frictional forces are reducedto facilitate the turning of the key with respect to the said receptaclewhen.

the key is in its extended position.

HUBERT SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthisv patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

